thought process

/θɑt ˈprɑses/

/θɔt ˈprʌʊses/

Other forms: thought processes

Definitions of thought process

1. noun

   the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
   synonyms: cerebration, intellection, mentation, thinking, thought

   types:

   free association

   a thought process in which ideas (words or images) suggest other ideas in a sequence

   construction, mental synthesis

   the creation of a construct; the process of combining ideas into a congruous object of thought

   abstract thought, logical thinking, reasoning

   thinking that is coherent and logical

   line of thought

   a particular way of thinking that is characteristic of some individual or group

   thread, train of thought

   the connections that link the various parts of an event or argument together

   mysticism

   obscure or irrational thought

   ideation

   the process of forming and relating ideas

   consideration

   the process of giving careful thought to something

   excogitation

   thinking something out with care in order to achieve complete understanding of it

   explanation

   thought that makes something comprehensible

   planning, preparation, provision

   the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening

   problem solving

   the thought processes involved in solving a problem

   convergent thinking

   thinking that brings together information focussed on solving a problem (especially solving problems that have a single correct solution)

   divergent thinking, out-of-the-box thinking

   thinking that moves away in diverging directions so as to involve a variety of aspects and which sometimes lead to novel ideas and solutions; associated with creativity

   interpretation, interpreting, rendering, rendition

   an explanation of something that is not immediately obvious

   crystallisation, crystallization

   a mental synthesis that becomes fixed or concrete by a process resembling crystal formation

   gestation

   the conception and development of an idea or plan

   analysis, analytic thinking

   the abstract separation of a whole into its constituent parts in order to study the parts and their relations

   argument, argumentation, line, line of reasoning, logical argument

   a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the methodical process of logical reasoning

   conjecture

   reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence

   deduction, deductive reasoning, synthesis

   reasoning from the general to the particular (or from cause to effect)

   illation, inference

   the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation

   anticipation, prediction, prevision

   the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)

   ratiocination

   logical and methodical reasoning

   reasoning backward, regress

   the reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence

   synthesis, synthetic thinking

   the combination of ideas into a complex whole

   advisement, deliberation, weighing

   careful consideration

   exploration

   a systematic consideration

   contemplation, musing, reflection, reflexion, rumination, thoughtfulness

   a calm, lengthy, intent consideration

   principle, rationale

   (law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature)

   key

   something crucial for explaining

   rationalisation, rationalization

   the cognitive process of making something seem consistent with or based on reason

   agreement, arrangement

   the thing arranged or agreed to

   applecart

   the planning that is disrupted when someone `upsets the applecart'

   malice aforethought, mens rea

   (law) criminal intent; the thoughts and intentions behind a wrongful act (including knowledge that the act is illegal); often at issue in murder trials

   calculation, deliberation

   planning something carefully and intentionally

   forethought, premeditation

   planning or plotting in advance of acting

   enquiry, inquiry, research

   a search for knowledge

   calculation, computation, figuring, reckoning

   problem solving that involves numbers or quantities

   theory

   a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena

   type of:

   higher cognitive process

   cognitive processes that presuppose the availability of knowledge and put it to use